Matrix scorcher



Feb. 16, 1932. H. E. TRENT 1,845,769

MATRIX SCORCBER Filed Jan. 22, 1929 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES HAROLD E. TRENT, 0F LANDSDOWNE, PENNSYLVANIA MATRIX SCOBCHER Application filed January 22, 1929. Serial- No. 334,342.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus for drying or scorching pulp mats or flongs, such as used in stereotyping.

In common practice heretofore, the scorch- 7 ing of the mat, matrix or flong has been accomplished by the use of gas-flame heat. This has involved the provision of complicated piping connections and heavy tables to carry them. A relatively large number of controls has been necessary in order to secure the needed regulation of the heat, and the tables and scorcher castings have been subject to stresses due to the expansion of the burner pipes and connections.

I provide a scorcher in which the heating is accomplished by electrical resistance elements so spaced and so connected that a uniform heat, varying in intensity up to the maximum heating capacity of the unit, can be obtained. By a novel method of mounting the resistance elements, stresses due to expansion or contraction thereof are eliminated. The device itself is so simple and light that it does not require a heavy supporting stand or table to carry it and can be readily shifted.

The construction of such a scorcher as my invention contemplates is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical midsection of the device taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 2; and

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken approximately on the line 22 of Figure 1, certain parts in both figures being shown in elevation.

The scorcher prop-er comprises an inner shell 1, an outer shell 2, heating elements 3, and a controlling switch 4. The inner and outer shells are supported on end castings 5, 5, the inner being fixed thereto in any suitable manner, the outer being spaced from the inner as by flanges 6, 6. The end castings are fixed to a base 7, preferably of heat insulating material, which is fastened to a bed plate 8, having downturued flanges 9.

The outer shell 2 is provided at the back with hinges 10, and at the front with a handle 11, to enable it to be swung up for ready insertion and removal of the flong.

The heating is accomplished by a plurality of electrical heating elements 3, which extend longitudinally and have terminals 12 near their ends for connection in an electrical circuit. These elements are bar-shaped, and are supported from slotted lugs 13, extending inwardly from the end castings 5, by means of bolts 14 through the ends of the bars. This arrangement permits the bolts to slide in the slots as the bars expand on heating, and thereby obviates undue stresses on the end castings 5 and possible buckling of the elements 3, while at the same time these elements are maintained in their relative positions.

It is customary to mount burners or heating elements in present day apparatus on concentric arcs with the inner and outer shells. I have discovered that much better results may be obtained by mounting these elements in an arc struck from a longer radius and a different center than the shell upon which the matrix rests, for the reason that the heat from the lower or end elements rises towards the upper part of the cylindrical shell, so that these elements should be close to the shell, and close to each other, while at the middle the elements should be spaced more widely from the shell and from each other to prevent local overheating.

A controlling switch 4, of any standard make available on the market, is provided to secure desired temperature regulation. Since this may be obtained in any one of a number of different ways, the switch is only shown diagrammatically.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for drying flongs comprising a semi-cylindrical form for receiving the flong, and electrical heating elements within said form and lying in a curved area of greater radius than the form.

2-. Apparatus for drying flongs including a semi-cylindrical form adapted to receive the flong and a plurality of electrical heating elements longitudinally disposed within said form, and with their ends lying in an arc of greater radius than the radius of said form.

3. Apparatus for drying fiongs comprising 

